Only two states are holding races this year for spots on their high courts, but the elections involve some of the highest stakes and most expensive judicial contests ever. In fact, with about a month left before an April 1 election for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, the race has seen more than $33 million in spending, including $6 million from groups affiliated with Elon Musk, the world’s richest man.
At a time when state supreme courts and their elections are getting more attention than ever, ideological court majorities are up for grabs in both Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. (Louisiana could have held an election this year as well, but the election was canceled after only one candidate filed to run for the seat.) Just two years ago, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania set records with the two most expensive judicial elections ever.
In Wisconsin, the 2023 election flipped the ideological majority on the court in favor of progressives for the first time in over a decade. Now, with the retirement of a member of the progressive wing of the court, that majority could flip back if conservatives’ preferred candidate, former Republican attorney general and current trial court judge Brad Schimel, wins the seat. Schimel is running for the open seat against trial court judge Susan Crawford, who has been endorsed by the state Democratic Party, in the nonpartisan election.
The impact of the court’s new progressive majority has been perhaps clearest in its election-related docket.
